So I guess you could almost imagine how surprised and ecstatic I was when I got home and I saw this:

BDJ shipped me their Jan-Feb Box as a gift!

"BDJ Box is the newest beauty box of the makers of Belle de Jour Power Planner – the ultimate fashionista lifestyle planner for every modern Filipina. Fulfilling its vision from the company name “Viviamo” which means “We Live”, the BDJ Team is off to crafting tools that will help people live out their ultimate life. Starting with the Belle de Jour Power Planners, the BDJ Team envisions products that empower Filipinos to -try, dare, fail, succeed, experience-live."

Thursday, January 30, 2014

As I said before: "Seeing fiction coming to life is such a bliss that when you’re at the moment, no matter how screwed some facts maybe, or no matter how far it deviates from the book, you were so happy you feel like crying." -- not that they changed much anyway.

Grab some tissues because here's the much awaited #TFioS trailer in its full HD glory:

In just a span of more than 2 minutes, my life is broken and made whole all at the same time. The trailer is so perfect I can't even -- Ah, God. Nat Wolff in nerd glasses (right, this is me fangirling). Isaac and his glasses. Hazel with the cannula. The big make-out at Anne Frank's house. The literal heart of Jesus. The egg throwing. And the fact that almost all of the trailer's dialogues are verbatim from the book. Almost everything was straight out adapted from the book I can't even comprehend my feelings about it. (Plus the fact that they used a OneRepublic song for this. I swear, "What You Wanted" would wreck me if I randomly hear it playing somewhere in the coming days." One proof. I am quite emotionally unstable right now, I know.)

But you know who surprised me the most in this? It's definitely Augustus Waters.

I am so amazed at how Ansel Elgort managed to pull off Augustus. It was so perfect. Gus' half smile. The way he says "your real story..." and "I reject that". How he looked at Hazel with eyes full of sincerity, and as if she's the only thing he's seeing.

His face when Hazel said "Gus, I'm a grenade."

And how he managed to pull off saying one of my favorite lines in the book:

How his voice sounded at that last "...and I am in love with you."

Yeah, there's a bit of a discrepancy with what I have in mind -- with the scene, ambiance, and all. But it was delivered all the same. How he's like trying to convince Hazel with that slight crack in his voice. And his saying that even though he knows she's not ready to say it back. F this life. The acting chops, man. It's all those little things, if you know what I mean.

I can honestly see Ansel as the perfect Gus, now

And I don't even care if he sees this or not. This is just genuine gratitude, people. Because I am really, really, really thankful to the nth time to him for not letting me down and bringing my imagination perfectly into life.

After that sudden leak of the TFioS trailer (which I am guilty of watching) a few days back, I honestly thought that the actual HD trailer would not send me to heaven again. But I am wrong. My feelings are everywhere, and I am not even ashamed of it. Watching -- even just the trailer, was a pretty amazing experience. This trailer managed to extract a whole range of emotions from me enough to even last a week, or even a month. I don't even know if I'll be able to handle watching the full length film. >.< That "Okay? Okay." at the end (which I'm guessing is the end shot of the film)? God! THIS TRAILER DEMANDS TO BE FELT, and you know it.

Pretty much sums up what I'm feeling right now.

(And I am keeping that "...and I am in love with you" quote as a ringtone. I am dead serious.)

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Here's to a new series I've been planning to start this year. This is #DressUp -- in which I put together coordinates inspired by covers of books that I really love. Being the admirer of beautiful book covers that I am, I actually had this idea in mind for quite a while now. I am not claiming to be some sort of fashionista -- this is all just for fun. I'm not really used to putting things together and I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to outfits -- using matching colors in my coordinates most of the time. This is my first futile attempt, so I hope you'll forgive me for this post. >.<

On the spotlight is Haruki Murakami's The Wind-up Bird Chronicle -- which is the book that's currently driving me nuts. >.<

I tried to put the orange in the bunch, but I thought it would clash with the green and all. The shades remind me of one of the characters, May Kasahara. On the other hand, the earrings are for the wind-up bird and the necklace symbolizes Kumiko's lost cat. That iPhone case that has a dream catcher print on it stands for all the dreams that played a big role in the plot of the book. The green and the yellow are self-explanatory, I guess. The addition of the flats and the leather bag is my attempt to put something of me in this coordinate. Hehe. I can honestly see myself wearing this for a short trip to the park -- to read, of course. And holding Wind-Up with this outfit would be pretty perf, don't you think? :)

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Welcome to my very first Haul Post this 2014! I can't really remember when I last posted something like this but what I am sure is that I do miss this -- so much. :)

I bought these two lovelies at the nearest Fullybooked! branch from where I am working. They were a bit pricey, and I noticed a slight additional charge relative to the other bookstores but it was well worth the ambiance. Well these two books, I am really excited to have for they are both part of my exhaustive 2014 reading list.

Love and Misadventure was really beautiful in person. I mean, I don't really know if it's appropriate to call a book "beautiful" according to it's cover and all but I can't think of any words to describe it. The pages. The illustrations. The font, even.

This is the kind of book that would look really photogenic in all those perfect scenes I imagine in my head. I might even take it to a photo shoot and enjoy every minute of it. (Haha, pathetic me.)I know that reading this would really be such a breath taking experience. God, I love Lang Leav for turning poetry into something this exciting. Though I am a solid fan of Tyler Knott Gregson, it's not really to bad to try some other poets once in a while.

Next up is my love, Haruki Murakami's The Wind-up Bird Chronicle. I remember myself pining for that one book in those bookshelves. The cover looks amazing. The book blurb looks amazing. Everything is amazing -- except the price, which is not really fit for a student like me. It was a big book, and I tried putting it off over and over to wait for the time when I'll be able to buy it with my own money and finally read it in it's full printed glory. There came a time when I became too addicted with Murakami that it amazes me how I was able to resist the temptation of just downloading it online and straight up read it in my phone. And my habit of highlighting his words really did me no good, even. I guess, I knew ever since that a Murakami deserves to be read in print. I knew I needed to buy the book one time or another. And now I did. And I'm really glad.

Gosh, I'm so excited for everything. This year would definitely be a pure bliss. :)

I've been feeling quite guilty because one of my new year's resolution is to open up myself again and post as much as I can. I definitely missed the comfort of the blogosphere with all the whirlwind events from last year, and I hope this year would be a chance for me to embrace it again -- wholly and lovingly. Things have been pretty busy at work these past few days and I can't wrap my mind around forming coherent words to make a decent post. Sorry for the lack of updates! I'm still keeping my word.

Looking through my "read" shelf at Goodreads, I felt like I really missed out a lot. I don't usually read books as they are published so I'm always behind with the news an all. So many fandoms to join, so much fangirling to do. Yet this year, while I was listing all the books I wanted to read, I find myself looking through my backlogs. Hehe. So I figured this would be filled with all the books that I should've read last year but for some reason, I haven't.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

A few days ago, someone from Viviamo messaged me and said that they would be sending me a New Year's Gift for being part of the BDJ Community. I wasn't really expecting much, more like in the line of their FMN Notebooks.

And then I went home earlier, and this wonderful package was waiting for me.

I did not only get a FMN Notebook, but they gave me more! What a surprise, really. :3

Here is the rundown of what I received:

A whole notebook of Belle De Jour Power Planner Sticky Notes!

I've been wanting to get one since I saw in their page that they're offering this new product in the market. Just look how cute they are! A notebook filled with sticky notes in 8 different designs. I particularly like the "I want to remember this" and the "Priorities for the day" sticky notes (the two big ones at the center).

They also gave me a Focus/Finish BDJ Forget-Me-Not List Journal! It comes in a yellow cover, which is bright as it is cute. I am really in need of this one for my engagements right now at work. It's crazy how BDJ can read what's exactly on my mind and what I need right now. >.<

And who could forget! They also sent me a Belle De Jour Power Planner in Leather. A freakin' BDJ Planner in it's full glory, can't you see. And it came with it's corresponding Lifestyle Card. I was too excited upon first handling the package. Even before I opened it, I can already sense that it includes one. But when I opened it and I saw this, I was really glad! It was really heartwarming.

Now that I think about it, the leather cover was as good as their matte one. :)) For a more formal, business-y feel.

I love this quote! I've been meaning to take a clear picture of this, and now I have the chance. :)

Now what to do with the extra planner?

I've already purchased my own from Fully Booked a few days back, so I have this leather one as an extra. I figured I should just give it to someone -- probably my sister -- to spread the love, recruit another Bella perhaps, and I hope this would help her make things happen. :))

As for BDJ, I just want you to know guys that you've made me feel really special for sending me these things. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I've been a Bella for two years now, and this is my third -- I can say that being part of your community has been really awesome by far!

Saturday, January 4, 2014

A new year makes starting over pretty special. All this new year, new me shit. They probably sound so cliche now -- but it doesn't mean they're any less sincere and true. :)

It has been a rather hard year...but I'm glad to say we made it through the end. I feel that it's wrong to say that everything that's happened should belong to the past already...because you know, some things just stick with you not because you let it, but because it mattered. So long for sad memories, lonely nights, tears, and all. Now is the time to start planning ahead, and aim for a brighter future - so that looking back, no matter how erratic the roller coaster ride may be, it would all be worth it.

Here's an unflattering photo of us right before the clock struck 12. :)

It just seem like yesterday that I wrote this post... and looking back, so much things have changed. ;( But there's no sense getting down over this kind of things. This year, I hope to brighten up my perspective a bit. Strive to be a cheerful person. And discover things --- new things, so that life won't be as dull and boring as it had been in the past.

First headshot for 2014! :3

There's this part at my BDJ Planner that says "If there's one things I will achieve this year, it will be...", and at that night, I didn't even think, I just straight up write that "I want to take time to make myself happy." And I sure do hope I could. :))

It's been a great start so far, as with the new work and the new environment, new people to meet, new chances to widen my horizon. It was hard adjusting at first, but now that I think about it, there are definitely ups and downs with the path I've chosen to tackle, but I am definitely loving it.

Here's to a greater year ahead! To a better, more cheerful self. To the places that we'll go. To the experiences yet to try. To more book we'll read. And to all the blessings we'll receive. We'll make it happen. :))

After that heart-treanding ride at Westeros and the free cities that the Game of Thrones have given me, I have continued on to reading the...

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All pictures posted in this blog are the property of Riza Ponciano unless otherwise stated. If I used your work in any way here in my blog and you like to be credited or want it removed, feel free to contact me at riza.ponciano@gmail.com.